Cara Westmark
Position title: Associate Professor, Department of Neurology
Email: westmark@wisc.edu
Phone: (608) 262-9730
Department:
Neurology
Education:
Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
Postdoctoral in Molecular Biology and Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
Research Description:
My research interests lie in the area of synaptic function as related to the over–expression of amyloid beta protein precursor (APP) and amyloid beta in fragile X syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease. I hypothesize that therapeutic and dietary interventions that normalize APP and amyloid beta levels will improve seizure, behavioral and cognitive phenotypes associated with these disorders.
FXS is a devastating developmental disability that has profound effects on cognition, behavior and seizure susceptibility. There are currently no treatments that target the underlying cause of the disorder and recent clinical trials have failed. We are studying therapeutic and dietary approaches that modulate APP metabolite levels and rescue behavioral and biomarker phenotypes associated with FXS.
Research Key Words:
Fragile X Syndrome, Amyloid Beta, Alzheimer’s Disease, Pharmaceutical Interventions, Moues Models